Sunday, July 29, 2007

Manchester United, while i was in hiatus

It was a great time to be a Red Devil last season. Manchester United captured their first Premier League title in a loooong time, and their first since I've started following their games. Funny thing was, that feeling you had watching them seasons before that they could and would always let you down was not there at all. On the momentum of a very good start (winning their first 7 games in a row), they dispatched all the chasers with impunity. You had that feeling it was gonna be the year.



It was also the coming out season for Cristiano Ronaldo. Two seasons before, people already knew the kid had talent. The problem was, it seemed he was more intent on showing off party tricks than winning games. Not so this year. Aside from his newfound maturity in delivering that defense-splitting pass, he was also joint top scorer, netting 23 times last season (compared to his 10 goals the season before that). The trickery didn't disapppear, and people seemed to appreciate him more now, stadiums were always gushing, oooh-ing and aaaah-ing whenever he gets his touches of the ball. His very strong performances early in the season bouyed the Red Devils to an early lead in the league, chasers Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool struggling to catch up. Indeed, it was only Arsenal that was able to put a dent on the season, beating them at home. After that, it was all downhill.



The latter part of the season also marked an upsurge from the other young phenom in the team, Wayne Rooney. After an injury that almost cost him his England spot in the World Cup, the boy was eager to get the season started. But it was a drought that met him early in the season. But late into the season, the boy hit form, and the Old Trafford faithful were treated to game after game of brilliant goals. Rooney ended the season as joint top scorer, also equalling Ronaldo's 23.



The Red Devils missed out on the Carling Cup and the FA Cup, both went to Chelsea. But the real question was whether they'd do good in the Champions League. The early signs were so-so; they qualified as runners-up in their group. But they hit form in the later rounds -- one of the highlights of the season, and for me as a fan, was the truly amazing 7-1 thrashing of Roma at Old Trafford. That night was downright breathtaking.



As usual, the injuries took their regular toll, and it was the defense and the midfield that always suffered in the latter part of the season. This was the main reason why AC Milan and that darned Kaka beat them in the semis of Europe's highest league. Oh well. Hopefully next season will be better.



The past season is truly a step up from what I've seen, so I'm excited when the new season kicks off this early August. New boys have come to strengthen the midfield -- Owen Hargreaves from Bayern Munich to give that bit of steel in the midfield, and the attacking pair from Portugal, Nani and Anderson. As of time of writing, they're still trying to figure out how to bring in Argentine striker Carlos Tevez. If they do so successfully, that represents another boost to Sir Alex Ferguson's already potent attacking options. Gary Neville and his defense are all fit as well so hopefully, they get to a good start again. Bring the season on.



=================

TIDBITS:

  • Arsenal are (yes, the English form takes the plural linking verb for teams) in deep defecation. Talismanic French striker Thierry Henry has packed his bags to join Ronaldinho and co., down in sunny Spain -- Barcelona, to be exact. Oh Ailene, what are your boys to do?

  • I'm sure you know David Beckham has left Madrid for good, signing with US Major League Soccer team LA Galaxy. I saw the highlights of his first game. Posh Spice (Victoria Beckham) was in the stands, together with new buddies Katie Holmes (Cruise) and son Shiloh. Governor Arnold was spotted also, as well as basketball star Kevin Garnett. I'd bet you a hundred bucks none of them knew what an offside violation was (except Victoria).

  • I certainly hope Chelsea will pose a better challenge this year. They've already given a season for both Ukrainian hitman Andriy Schevchenko and German midfielder Michael Ballack to get used to the English game. They better shape up, else Manchester United will run away with the title again.

  • Liverpool are trying to break into the top 3, and they certainly have the goods to do so. They've kept Steven Gerrard in contract, Australian winger Harry Kewell is fit again, and they've signed Spain striker/poster-boy Fernando Torres from Madrid. It's sounds like an exciting season already.
  • It's been a disappointing transfer window for Real Madrid. They lost Becks, who played so magnificently in the last part of the season that he actually earned a call-back into the England team. They wanted to go back on their word and "un-sell" him, but LA Galaxy won't let go of the multi-million dollar marketing man they have just now. Now Real Madrrid also wanted Cristiano Ronaldo-- fat chance that ManU would let him go. They also wanted Kaka from AC Milan-- fell down flat on their faces again. They're also moving for Arjen Robben, Chelsea's dynamite left-wing attacker-- again, not a big chance there. Boohoo. Then they sacked the coach who got them the Spanish Primera Liga title last year. What's up with that?

On the football merry-go-round:

  • Michael Owen (England, fit again) => Newcastle; Ronaldo (remember him? Fat Brazilian) => AC Milan; Juan Roman Riquelme (one of my personal favorites) => back again from international retirement, and now currently playing in Argentina for Boca Juniors, unless some European team rescues him; Carlos Tevez => not yet, but hopefully will end up with ManU; Francisco Totti stays with Roma, but retires from international football.
  • By the way, it's EURO year this year and the next, so watch for England, Spain and others try to qualify and dethrone Greece.

Whew. 'til your next football update.

Sunday, July 22, 2007

getting my guitar freak on

My internal axeman (sleng for guitarist, for the uninitiated) level is enjoying an all-time high these days, some because of Broken's revival, but more because of my newly found guitar brother, Mark of the band ALAB.

I'm feeling very happy with my Rockstar acoustic guitar right now, I got that last Christmas for a bargain Php5k at Sta. Mesa. For all you who want a gig guitar that is bang-for-the-freaking-buck, this is it. It has a 3-band saddle EQ, although I suspect that the bridge pick-up is not the ceramic type on the bridge that most guitar enthusiasts like. It also has a digital chroma tuner, a very big convenience for strummers like me. Believe me, the relief of not having to plug in to a tuner is very much welcome. Did I tell you it also has the balanced XLR output? Well it does, so you can plug in direct to an XLR mic cord direct to mixer. It makes for cleaner sounds, and better recording captures, too. If any of you want word on where to get a bargain for this type of guitar, email me. [johnhofilena{at}gmail{dot}com]

It may turn out to be just a whim, but I'm seeing the need (sound-wise, that is) for me to turn to an electric guitar sometimes, especially during sets that include anthem-sounding United songs, ones that sound just a tad bit lame with just one electric guitar crunching it. More on this later...

Don't be fooled though, I'm still in love with the acoustic guitar, more now than ever. So it got me dreaming again. And to this dream, there are levels.



First, there's the "Reachable, possibly.":


There only a couple of names that I respect when it comes to guitars, Ibanez is one of them. This model is the AEG8E, I named it "the one that called my name." I saw this at that Audiophile shop in Makati Cinema Square, and it has haunted me ever since. Nice black finish, all the Ibanez bells and whistles. I tested this out on their JBL mixer and output, she was a dream. She retails for Php10k. With a little bit more pushing, this can probably happen, although the bebe would probably throw a conniption. Well, I can dream, can't I?


Almost exactly alike, and possible with a little more "ooomph" and "dream" to them are these models: AEG10E (Php14k) and the AEL10E (Php15k). Clickity-click on them linkies.



I'm scanning the horizon right now for 2nd hand units of these, might be able to get any of these at lower cost. If any of you have word, do tell me, I beg of you.






Then, there's the "It may take a while.":

As I've told you a couple of paragraphs back, I'm actually thinking of going electric. Again, I'm not an electric guitar guy by choice, I just feel the itch. So maybe a Fender Squier Standard Telecaster ought to do the trick. Not too many bells and whistles, but definitely still a classic. One single coil and one hot thin humbucker - two choices, you takes your picks and then you finds your own voice. Not too shabby, I think.

This one retails at Yupangco-Yamaha-Perfect Pitch (did you know that they're owned by the same guy?) for Php18k. But then you don't just pick up an electric guitar and play it. With the demands of todays modern music (even in P&W), you have to have a digital FX box ready to match the guitar and give you the sound and details you need. Most of the people I know right now are going analog (Boss and digitech stompboxes, etc.), but with the eclectic sounds that I may need, I figure a digital multi-FX processor would be better for me.

There are a LOT of digital fx boxes out there, but of the current ones, I like the Zoom G2.1u for its portability, ease of use, and overall full sound on any module you may want. Before last year's generation of multiFX processors, any one of them would have a problem - some would have hard-hitting distortions and overdrives, but would be weak in the subtle delays and reverbs, or vice-versa. ZOOM especially had a problem with this, but they've solved the problem, appparently. This retails at various stores for around Php7500-8k. Plus all other accessories (gig bag, cords, strap, power gadgets), this electric guitar whim of mine will cost me near Php30k. (breathe bebe...)


And lastly, there's "Move heaven and earth and this would STILL be near impossible, unless I win the lotto (which I don't play anyways).":

Why would anybody want a Taylor guitar anyways? Well, we could just leave that question be, OR we could ask John Mayer, or Jason Mraz, or James Taylor, or Vertical Horizon's Matt Scannel and Kieth Kane, or Jars of Clay's Matt Odmark, or Babyface, or those guys called Switchfoot... why the heck do they play a Taylor guitar?

Ladies and gents, I bring you, the Taylor Doyle Dykes Signature Model Black. Probably the sweetest guitar I ever would see.

I don't want to go on about the details, it'll only bring me more pain. Just click HERE.













Check out this beauty. ***sigh***



























This baby retails for Php226,000. This is where I'll stop dreaming, before it kills me.

If you guys know of guitar bargains that I could maybe look into, I'm ready for alternatives to the dreams. Meanwhile, my Rockstar will keep me going through these guitar times.


**sigh**

Thursday, July 19, 2007

rare and semi-rare stuff

because I'm such a good guy, and mostly because this is what my (close to non-existent) free blogging time only allows, I'm restricted to giving you download goodies, just so I don't become a clogger (according to userfriendly.org, a blogger who stops blogging after the first 3 posts).

and so, on with the goodies.

REMEMBER, these links will die in 45 days, so download them now while you can.

First up, and I know, this is the mainstream in me talking. I guess any credible music lover would have had listened to Chris Daughtry by now. To start off, the acoustic version of Home, the album's strongest single to date. [DOWNLOAD].

I bless the day acoustic versions were invented.

Not a few years back, a nondescript CD fell into my hands. It contained a dozen remixes of Jars of Clay hits. They're very fresh to listen to, especially if you've just about worn out the sound of your Jars of Clay first album. My favorites among the lot were the Savage Flavor Remix of the carrier single Flood [DOWNLOAD], and the Fluff-Sav Remix of Blind [DOWNLOAD].

For the reggae in you, my office mate gave me this mp3 of Delroy Wilson doing Bread's Baby I'm-A-Want You. So much reggae fun. [DOWNLOAD]

Also from the same office mate... you remember your Seattle grunge days? I do. And if you went through that phase, you would surely remember that band called Soundgarden. Vocalist Chris Cornell has long since been associated with Audioslave, but somewhere in this life, he performed solo acoustic in Sweden. That performance has been hailed as a landmark acoustic performance of the decade. Get a copy, for the sake of your sanity. From that recording I bring you, Chris Cornell's acoustic rendition of Jacko staple Billie Jean. Amazing, I tell you. [DOWNLOAD]

Also for the rare and eclectic... the Christian music scene is buzzing (?) with the news that prolific (and rather quite activist) songwriter Gary Granada is ready to start producing Christian music again. Some of the people are skeptical, but I say that's actually good news. Here's a rare find for me, Gary Granada doing a Cebuano folk love song, Usahay. Ailene, I dunno if you have this, so come and get it. [DOWNLOAD]

For the past season of American Idol, I had no clear favorite. I had 2 or 3 that I liked, at least until Blake did his Bon Jovi song, You Give Love a Bad Name. That performance trumped any single one in my recent Idol memory (not including William Hung, of course). Even if Blake didn't eventually win, I know that guy is going places. Here's the studio version of his beatbox groove rock anthem. [DOWNLOAD]

This next one outplays any other dance music in my head (and mp3 player) today. You remember the dance step, groove with Chaka Demus and Pliers - Tease Me. [DOWNLOAD]

I had a heck of a looooong time trying to locate a copy this next Steven Curtis Chapman hit, so I assume it must be at least semi-rare. Anybody have a copy of the Abbey Road Sessions? I want. Here's The Walk. [DOWNLOAD]

Last but not definitely least, I have dug up my copy of this album A Twist of Marley. A tribute to the great reggae-mon, guitarist and producer Lee Ritenour's jazz fusion project has been considered a classic. It''s just a shame nobody freaking knows about it. I have a copy, and I'll be nice to anyone who asks. [pramis]. Here's one cut, a jazzy rendition of Marley hit Get Up, Stand Up. Enjoy. [DOWNLOAD]


For any music requests for my next batch of goodies, you can email me at johnhofilena[at]gmail[dot]com, ayt? Be kind, rewind.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

babe post #1 [plus mini game post]

When you get down to it, you always blog about the things that matter. hehehe.

===========================

First babe post of this location

So I've been watching the 6th season of Emmy award winning TV-series 24, even if ida says it's not as good as the past ones. I'm kinda getting hints of that right now, but the superhuman-android-John McClane (Die Hard) clone-"you can't kill me" aura of Jack Bauer can still keep me glued to the screen for hours.

Add to that the reward of seeing her face on the screen: Marisol Nichols.

She takes the role of the right-hand errr... woman of CTU Director Bill Buchanan, and is pegged by the role to be of middle-eastern descent (in reality, she's Latina). That the series' plotline deals with middle-eastern terrorists creates a good side-story for the directors to play with, I think.



I'm just at episode 11, and her interaction with the people has been less than that of Kim Bauer in the preceding seasons, which is a bummer. I don't know if I'll be seeing the ever hawt Elisha Cuthbert this season, but Marisol's Latina hotness, and that intelligent-competent-kickass air she's got going is enough to keep me watching the series as of the moment.




here are more pics:





nice eh?

[=========== ]

and for my game post, if you'll allow me to call it that.

We all watched the seminal treatise on human and alien robot interaction - the Transformers.
It is common practice now in the media industry to have the game huffing and puffing after the movie is released. As for "Transformers - The Game", here's my review:




IT SUCKS.

[semi-disclaimer: they say it plays nice on a console e.g. XBox or PSwhatever. But for us PC-gamers who are used to a little more depth on the story line and game play, and not just the mind-blowing graphics, you gotta do a little better than that.]

Monday, July 9, 2007

song of the moment

thank you, thank you all.

as a token of my appreciation, i grant you this musical-post-whatchamacallit.

So my friend recently asked me if there was one song that was playing over and over in my head. the answer here is, well, "not quite." but this one is playing over and over in my mp3 player, so i guess that will have to do.

This one is off the Grey's Anatomy soundtrack, and it's just damnedly singable pop.

=============

How to save a life
The Fray

Step one: you say we need to talk. He walks. You say sit down it's just a talk. He smiles politely back at you, you stare politely right on through. Some sort of window to your right, as he goes left and you stay right. Between the lines of fear and blame, you begin to wonder why you came.

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

Let him know that you know best, 'coz after all you do know best. Try to slip past his defense, without granting innocence. Lay down a list of what is wrong, the things you've told him all along, and pray to God he hears you. You pray to God he hears you.

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life


As he begins to raise his voice, you lower yours and grant him one last choice. Drive until you lose the road, or break with the ones you've followed. He will do one of two things: He'll admit to everything, or he'll say he's just not the same. And you'll begin to wonder why you came.

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
======================================

Wait for it... there: DOWNLOAD
You though i'd forget that? hehehe.

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

back

The problem with being back actually is in answering the questions:
  • So, where were you?
  • Why did you stop blogging?
  • Why are you blogging again?

forgive me, my hundred thousand and one readers, if i forego the task of answering these.

you know me (or you think you do). you more or less have an idea of how this blog is gonna run. in the past, i have shown you what i like and don't like. so maybe it's going to be that way still. or not. or maybe i'll find a way to surprise you a little.

here's the offer. don't expect anything, and maybe you won't be disappointed, ayt?

let's go for a fresh start.